A 5-Point Guide to the Perfect Campsite Setup

Besides location , one of the most essential parts of a camping trip for many people is comfort. The level of comfort one will experience is often determined by how the campsite is set up.

Here a visual 5 step guide to setting up the perfect campsite with a textual version below. Apply these practical tips and you’ll increase the opportunity to have a safe, fun, and comfortable camping experience.

Via: CampLonger.com

General Tips for Setting Up Campsites & Camping Equipment

• When creating a campsite, you want to make sure it’s not only comfortable, but organized as well.
• Having the right gear for the season and location of your camp is crucial.
• Know where you’re camping and what’s available. This includes bathrooms and water sources.
• Electrical outlets are not always necessary, but can impact the equipment at your disposal.
• Bring only what you need.
• Keep your equipment stored carefully to avoid holes, mold, or other damage.

The 5 Key Things to Remember for a Great Campsite Setup

1. Find the Perfect Site

• Flat land is a must to ensure proper drainage.
• Look for an area that’s free of protruding roots, rocks, and other vegetation.
• Finding flat land with nearby trees can protect your campsite from high winds while providing additional shade.
• Make sure any nearby trees are healthy, rather than dead/dying as they could become hazards in poor or extreme weather conditions.
• The higher your campsite is, the better.

2. Keep Trash at a Distance, But Water Sources Close

• Designate a place for trash (recycling and trash depending on campsite rules) to make cleanup easy throughout your outing.
• Trash should be kept at least 20 ft. from your tent and where it can’r be reached by local wildlife.
• Try to set up camp within 200 ft. of a bathroom, but no closer than that.
• Set up camp near a water source.
• If the site has water pumps, make sure it’s only a short walk away.
• If you’re back-country camping, don’t camp too far from any streams, rivers, or other sources of water.
• If obtaining your water from a natural source, pack Chlorine tablets and a water purifier to ensure clean drinking water.

3. Maximize the Usefulness of Your Tent With Proper Placement

• Bring enough tents to accommodate the number of campers.
• Consider using smaller or older tents for additional storage, for unpackaged gear or emergency shelter from inclement weather.
• It’s better to dirty an extra tent than the one you sleep in.
• Waterproof any tents with a silicone sealant or secure a tarp over each tent with stakes.
• Place tents on flat land, preferably on high ground to avoid flooding.

4. Keep an Organized and Clean Kitchen Area

• Keep your food in bags and hung out up out of reach of wildlife (particularly bears).
• Food should be kept at least 200 ft. from camp and at least 10-12 ft high.
• Whether you are cooking over a campfire or on a portable grill, cook downwind to avoid enticing animals.
• To ensure your food gets to the campsite safely, use appropriate storage containers and coolers.
• Organizing your camping pantry and kitchen makes finding what you need easy and minimizes the chance of forgetting anything back home.

5. Build a Campfire Like a Pro

• Campfires should be kept at least 15 ft. from surrounding wood and other flammable vegetation.
• When building a fire, keep wind direction and protection in mind.
• Keep a bucket of water and shovel nearby when building a fire.
• The firewood you collect should always be dead and you should never cut down whole branches or trees for firewood.
• Collect tinder, such as small twigs, dry leaves, grass, and needles.
• Sticks smaller than 1 In. around are perfect for kindling. To fuel the fir, use larger pieces of wood.

Campfires 101

• Place a few handfuls of tinder in a lose pile at the center of the fire pit.
• For kindling, you can arrange the wood in 4 different configurations – Tepee, Lean-lo, Log Cabin, or Cross
• Once your kindling is set up over the tinder, ignite the tinder with a long lighter or match.
• Toss more tinder into the fire as it gets larger.
• Gently blowing at the base of the fire will feed it Oxygen, causing it to grow hotter.
• Once the tinder and kindling you set up catches and is burning well, you can add more kindling and larger pieces of fuel wood to keep the fire burning.